Volcano activity increasing? (Seattle, Tacoma, Enumclaw: home, scorpions, tornado)

[VirtualErik]

So I know there are many active volcanoes up there, one very tall one visible from Seattle on a clear day. So I've been seeing reports on facebook showing there's a lot of rumbling going on in the area from Mt. Rainier, Helen, and Hood. Is this normal? I've only lived in the South East part of the Country, "Georgia". Worse thing we have are evening thunderstorms and F0 tornado. I have no experience other than my 3 years in Central Oregon where the most risk was the three sisters.

Many of you may recognize me as the guy whose been trying to move to Seattle for a few years now. I now have the finances, just waiting till about Jan. to make the drive back across the country. That being said, how big of a risk are those volcanoes really?
I already know about the subduction zone and risk of mega thrust quakes, just want to see if the activity is cause for concern?

Like which areas are at more risk than others, seems the further north of Seattle the better as the reach of the mud flows won't be such a risk.

Thanks!

[Hemlock140]

Those concerned should avoid living in areas shown as in the lava flow zones on the map. Probably explains why Enumclaw has not become a popular place for large home developments. I'm sure that if there were any unusual activity lately we would have probably heard about it here.

https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes...rd_lahars.html

[leastprime]

I have some rings that I want to forge.

[mhays25]

Mt. Rainier looks huge from Seattle but it's 50 miles away. Even Tacoma is something like 30 miles. It's more about the river valleys per the post above. And hopefully Seattle doesn't lose too much of its backdrop. And hopefully it's not a sideways blast that kills much of the national park, like the St. Helens example.

I haven't seen anything in the papers about increased activity. They're never totally quiet of course, until geologic time happens and the plate tectonic whatever isn't under that spot anymore.

[Thom52]

WE ARE ALL GONNA DIE!!!!!!
Definitely don't move here if you are worried about living under the shadow of a volcano.

Personally, I was hiking ON Mt St Helens last weekend, and I hike ON Mt Rainier regularly, which shows my level of concern.

I would rather risk living under the shadow of a volcano, than wandering around out in the open during a tornado alert.

Find your comfort zone, otherwise you will be in a constant state of anxiety.

[Ruth4Truth]

OP, why are you waiting until the dead of winter to make the drive? I'm not sure where you'll be coming from (Georgia? Central Oregon?), but that's a bad idea. If you'll be crossing mountains, serious snow could be involved. IDK, but you seem to be focusing on the wrong things. The answer to your question, "how big a risk are these volcanoes anyway" should be obvious from the size of the populations living in their regions. If you're this worried about it, you shouldn't move to volcano country. Earthquake country, the Bay Area and LA, are out, too.

[GatsbyGatz]

Check out a map of the lahar flow to see the areas at risk:

http://geology.com/usgs/rainier/rain...r-flow-map.jpg

As you can see, lava/lahar will flow down the many rivers, which will mostly affect the Port of Tacoma. Not Seattle (besides increased water level in the Port of Seattle).

[CrazyDonkey]

There are all manner of hazards. Ours tend to come along every 100 to 500 years (major volcanoes, subduction earthquakes, tsunamis, lahars, etc.). I'll take that over hurricanes, tornadoes, killer bees, poisonous snakes, venomous spiders, scorpions, alligators, sharks, Zika, Nile Fever, etc., which in some parts of the country are daily, monthly, or yearly threats.

Here's the lahar map for Mt. Rainier (towns and cities in the path have early warning systems so you can run for high ground):

https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes...rd_lahars.html

[VirtualErik]

Originally Posted by CrazyDonkey

There are all manner of hazards. Ours tend to come along every 100 to 500 years (major volcanoes, subduction earthquakes, tsunamis, lahars, etc.). I'll take that over hurricanes, tornadoes, killer bees, poisonous snakes, venomous spiders, scorpions, alligators, sharks, Zika, Nile Fever, etc., which in some parts of the country are daily, monthly, or yearly threats.

Here's the lahar map for Mt. Rainier (towns and cities in the path have early warning systems so you can run for high ground):

https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes...rd_lahars.html

so would I! lol, I'm still sold on Seattle just wanna have an idea of what i'm in for.
also it is true Jan may be a bad drive since that is winter, I may bump it up to Oct. That's when I made the drive last year across and didn't run into any trouble at all, it didnt even rain the entire trip on my route.

[leastprime]

You lived in Central Oregon and didnt think you had much risk?